Amtrak is one step closer to bringing new high-speed trains to Philadelphia, and the Northeast Corridor after years of delays, writes Mark Walker for The New York Times.

The Federal Railroad Administration recently cleared Amtrak officials to begin testing its new trains on the tracks that run through Washington, D.C., to Boston on its 14th try.

The new Avelia Liberty trains are faster, more spacious, are expected to tilt for a faster and smoother ride around curves, and accommodate up to 369 passengers — 25% more than its current Acela trains.

Amtrak said that the testing on the tracks will be “the next step in the safety certification process that leads toward launching revenue service.”

The project is three years behind schedule, however, due to a series of safety and design disputes.

Amtrak and Alstom, the French manufacturer of the new trains, said last fall that it was targeting October 2024 date for the new trains to be in service. 

However, only 10 out of 28 that were contracted to be ready in 2021 have been delivered.

All 10 all sit idle in a Pennsylvania trainyard visible to passengers near 30th Street Station. 

The price tag for the new trains is about $1.6 billion.

Read more about Amtrak’s years-long process of introducing new trains at The New York Times. 

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